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May 8, 2011

Yesterday I had an opportunity to spend the Saturday with some amazing women that I feel honored to have in my life. It was confirmed to me for the umpteenth time why I married the amazing man that I did. He comes from a huge long line of amazing Strasburg women.

For our wedding Dave and I didn't have anyone but our immediate families join us. We didn't have a reception, and I didn't have a luncheon with anyone but just his 7 sisters and their families and my 3 siblings and their families, so coming into this marriage all I knew was Dave's immediate family. Dave's immediate family is not very close with his father's side of the family. His father has I think 7 sisters, and 2 brothers. He came from a HUGE family of farmers. They have come to be some of the most amazing and special people that I have ever met.

My sister in law Nicole (Dave's baby sister) is getting married on June 2, and so in celebration her Aunt Louise Strasburg threw her a bridal shower to get the entire Strasburg family girls together. Wow, there is a lot of them.

During last summer I briefly had a chance to meet each of them, but for only about an hour or so at a family reunion. My health was still not doing too good, so we didn't get to stay for very long. Since then I have felt a huge amount of love and respect for these women, and have wanted to get to know them better. This shower was the perfect opportunity.

So Saturday afternoon I headed up to Salt Lake to this party, and of course I showed up 20 minutes late so I walked in right during the middle of a game. After the game was over I immediately got up and walked over to aunt Nola and aunt Nancy and gave them a hug. I remembered their faces and instantly remembered their special spirits. They opened their arms and hugged me and told me how grateful they were that I was there. That meant more to me then I think they will ever know. We sat and chatted for a bit until lunch was served and then we got up to go get lunch.

As I was standing in line, more of these amazing cousins that Dave has started introducing themselves to me. Some I had met and some I hadn't. They were all so kind and loving and went out of there way to make me feel loved and welcome. What joy it is to be in the presence of true daughters of our heavenly father. I knew that day that his love was there in abundance.

As we got our food we all sat down and started talking. I got to meet my Aunt Anne, who I previously did not get to meet at the reunion. She was so sweet and kind. She told me some fun stories of how she remembered my sweet husband from when he was a child, since that was the last time that she had seen them. Like I said before, Dave's immediate family really doesn't have anything to do with this side of the family, so it's like all of Dave's siblings are getting to know them for the first time as well.

As I made my way around that day and chatted with so many special women, we all sat down to get ready for Nicole to open her gifts from her aunts and cousin's, that she had not spent time with her entire life. That touched me deeply. These people that don't even know Nicole went out of their way to throw her a party, buy gifts, and make her feel special, as she should, for the greatest day of her life. It touched my heart deeply.

After Nicole opened a particular gift 2 of my cousin's had to leave. Their father was my father in law, Lou's, brother. He passed away many years ago, and I love that they still come to every party for the Strasburg family. That day they were headed to the cemetery. Before they left they came and knelt down in front of me and my cousin Jill, (Yes her name is Jill Strasburg) shared with me something that had touched her. She told me that she is faithful reader of my blog, and what one particular entry had made her feel. To me it was just me expressing my thoughts, as I always do on this little thing. :) She told me that her husband had recently lost his job, and although they were prepared for it, she found herself feeling a little down and little sorry for herself, which I think any of us in that situation would. Anyway, she said that my entry where I spoke about how Dave and I have literally nothing, I can't work, I have thousands of dollars in medical debt, Dave is a full-time student, we live with our in laws (because they are so gracious and kind to let us live here), and I really don't own much to my name, but I am happier then I have ever been in my entire life. Which I truly am. I have my amazing husband who loves me, I have a testimony that my Savior loves me, and I have amazing family and friends who support and love me. For some reason that entry was exactly what she needed to hear that day.

As Jill was kneeling in front of me, and holding my hands while tears fell from her eyes, she was thanking me. I couldn't believe it. This woman gave me the love and support that I needed that day. She lifted me like she would not believe. She was sharing her most intimate spirit with me in that moment, and I felt like the lucky one. How blessed am I that I get to call her my family? What an amazing feeling to be in the presence of a true daughter of God. I learned so much from her that day while she was telling me that I helped her. Wow.

Jill, Thank you for reading my blog. Thank you for sharing that story with me. I'm glad it was there for you in a time when you needed it, and that in some way it lifted you, because yesterday your spirit lifted me. I feel honored to be your family. I love you with my whole heart.

I'm so thankful for small miracles. For the fact that this little blog, that I LOVE doing, and that I would do even if no one read, meant something to someone. If I have touched even 1 person through my stories then this entire blog is worth it.

The souls of women are great, and I feel honored to be a part of them. I feel such pride to say that I am a Strasburg, because I come from a line of strong, beautiful, powerful, spiritual, good, loving, and Christlike women. I thank my Heavenly Father everyday that my sweet Dave asked me to be his eternal companion, because I really think that I got the sweeter end of the deal here.

Thank you Strasburg women for teaching me what it is to be a true woman of God. I'm thankful for your love and spirits.

And a special Happy Mother's Day to all of you amazing Daughter's of God out there. To my Mother Cay, my Mother Paula, my sister Jamie, my sister's in law, Chrissy, Lupita, Stacy, Melissa, Bonnie, and Laurel. I hope you hall have a wonderful Mother's Day not only because you deserve it, but because you are amazing Mother's, and I love you.

Jilly Strasburg

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The most beautiful people we have known are those who have known defeat, known suffering, known struggle, known loss, and have found their way out of the depths. These people have an appreciation, a sensitivity, and an understanding of life that fills them with compassion, gentleness, and a deep loving concern. Beautiful people do not just happen.